Secular Coalition for America - Nontheist Public Officialshttps://secular.org/taxonomy/term/14/0
The Secular Coalition for America salutes the courage and honesty of Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), the first member of Congress in U.S. history to publicly acknowledge a nontheistic worldview. The Secular Coalition encourages other elected and appointed officials to join him.enModel Secular Policy Guide for Legislatureshttps://secular.org/content/model-secular-policy-guide-legislatures
<p><a href="http://secular.org/files/model_secular_policy_guide1.pdf"><img style="float: right;" src="http://secular.org/files/mspg_cover.jpg" border="0" width="232" height="299" /></a>The Secular Coalition&rsquo;s <a href="http://secular.org/files/model_secular_policy_guide1.pdf">Model Secular Policy Guide</a> is a collaboration of the entire nontheistic movement, endorsed by 86 nontheistic, secular and affiliated organizations across the country. The guide covers a multitude of issues affecting secular and nontheistic Americans in public life including health policy, science education, tax exemptions, religiously-based discrimination, and the treatment of nontheists in the military, among others.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Model Policy Guide is meant to help educate legislators on the views of secular and nontheistic Americans on pertinent issues, and includes historical background and legal precedent. It will be distributed to every office on Capitol Hill, state legislative offices across the country and will also be available on the Coalition&rsquo;s website following the launch events.</p>
<p><strong>Areas of focus include: <br /></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Health and Safety</li>
<li>Education </li>
<li>Discrimination </li>
<li>Tax Policy</li>
<li>Military </li>
<li>International</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://secular.org/files/model_secular_policy_guide1.pdf">View or download the guide here &gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>"under God" in the PledgeAcknowledging NontheistsBoy ScoutsChristian NationCivil Rights/Religious DiscriminationConscience ClausesCourt StrippingResearchCreationism/Intelligent DesignFaith-Based ProgramsJudicial NominationsLGBT Civil RightsMarriage AmendmentMember OrganizationsExecutive Branch Nontheist Public OfficialsOfficial PrayersOur ConstituencyPrivileging ReligionReligion in Political CampaignsReligion in the MilitaryReligious Symbols on Gov't PropertyReproductive RightsRLUIPA/RFRASex EducationStem CellsVouchers for Religious SchoolsWed, 11 Dec 2013 14:54:03 +0000Lauren Youngblood1800 at https://secular.orgAtheists Grade Massachusetts Congressional District https://secular.org/news/atheists-grade-massachusetts-congressional-district
<p>Washington, DC-- The Secular Coalition for America yesterday released its <a href="http://secular.org/files/primary_scorecard_ma_special_0.pdf">2013 Massachusetts Special Election Candidate Scorecard</a> for the upcoming elections -guide for secular-minded <em>Massachusettsians</em><em> </em>&nbsp;on the candidates.</p>
<p>The scorecard grades the 10 candidates-Republican and Democratic-vying for the 5<sup>th</sup> District Congressional seat on October 15. The candidates received the following grades: &nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>FRANK JOHN ADDIVINOLA, JR. &nbsp;- F</li>
<li>WILLIAM N. BROWNSBERGER &nbsp;- A</li>
<li>KATHERINE M. CLARK &nbsp;- A</li>
<li>PETER J. KOUTOUJIAN - N/A</li>
<li>MARTIN LONG - N/A</li>
<li>PAUL JOHN MAISANO - N/A</li>
<li>CARL M., SCIORTINO JR. - A</li>
<li>KAREN E. SPILKA - A</li>
<li>MICHAEL P. STOPA - N/A</li>
<li>TOM TIERNEY&nbsp; - B</li>
</ul>
<p>The candidates were scored on their answers to four topics relating to separation of church and state issues:&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<li>What role would religion play in the candidate's decision making in his or her role as a U.S. Representative?&nbsp; Does the candidate support a mutual separation between religion and government?</li>
<li>Does the candidate support a science based curriculum in public schools and reject the use of public funding of religious schools or religiously-based curriculums?</li>
<li>Does the candidate support social policies that do not discriminate based on religion, such as marriage equality?</li>
<li>Does the candidate support scientifically based regulations including science surrounding reproduction?</li>
</ol>
<p>"We are pleased to have several strong candidates in Massachusetts," said Edwina Rogers, executive director of the Secular Coalition for America. "But no matter who is elected the Secular Coalition and our state chapter in Massachusetts will work to educate and unify lawmakers on both sides of the aisle behind our country's core secular founding principles."</p>
<p>A recent Pew Forum <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/How-Religious-Is-Your-State-.aspx">study</a> indicated that a full 40 percent of Massachusetts residents do not express an absolute belief in God, and a majority of Massachusetts residents-60 percent-disagreed that "religion is very important to their lives."&nbsp; In fact, when it comes to this question, Massachusetts is one of the least religious states, outranked only by Alaska, New Hampshire and Vermont.&nbsp; Another Pew study found that the <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/more-see-too-much-religious-talk-by-politicians.aspx#expressions">majority of Americans</a> (54%) say that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters, and 38% says that there has been too much expression of religious faith and prayer from political leaders - a number that has grown to its highest point since the Pew Research Center began asking the question more than a decade ago.</p>
<p>Zachary Bos, co-chair for the Secular Coalition for Massachusetts said, there are hundreds of thousands of secular-identifying Massachusetts residents who vote and want elected officials to protect the nation's secular founding principles. According to the Pew Research Center, the religiously unaffiliated are now the single largest voting bloc within the Democratic Party, comprising 24 percent.</p>
<p>"It's all too easy to give lip-service to faith in order to curry favor with religious voters, but the truth is, everyone's freedoms are better protected when our political leaders work hard to keep any religious bias out of government," Bos said. "Nontheists have always been a part of the Massachusetts community, but now that we've become organized, we're going to make sure our concerns can't be overlooked-- that includes asking hard questions about the candidates' commitment to secular government, so that our voters know where to throw their support."</p>
<p>Rogers agreed and noted that the larger fights over religion and government are often at the state level.</p>
<p>"The separation of religion and government affects all of us in a positive way--including protecting the religious from having another's brand of religion imposed on them," Rogers said.&nbsp; "These secular values are particularly important to remember and protect at the state level, where we're seeing some of the most egregious legislation in state capitals across the country."</p>
<p>In September David Niose, president of the Secular Coalition for America, <a href="http://secular.org/news/sca-president-tries-under-god-case-mass-supreme-court-today">presented oral arguments</a> before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in "Doe v. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District." In his arguments, Niose cited the Equal Protection clause to challenge a state law that requires daily school-sponsored and teacher-led classroom recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, which includes the term "under God."</p>
<p>The Secular Coalition for America published the scorecards in conjunction with the <a href="http://states.secular.org/states/massachusetts">Secular Coalition for Massachusetts</a>, an established state chapter of the Secular Coalition, which lobbies state lawmakers on behalf of secular Americans in Massachusetts.</p>
<p><strong>CONTACT</strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Lauren Anderson Youngblood</strong>, SCA Communications Manager at <a href="mailto:lauren@secular.org">lauren@secular.org</a> or (202)299-1091 ext. 205, cell (202)630-9725</li>
<li><strong>Zachary Bos</strong>, Secular Coalition for Massachusetts Co-chair at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:massachusetts@secular.org" target="_blank">massachusetts@secular.org</a> or (617)935-4951</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>"under God" in the PledgePress ReleasesCreationism/Intelligent DesignFaith-Based ProgramsNontheist Public OfficialsOfficial PrayersReligion in Political CampaignsReproductive RightsSex EducationStem CellsVouchers for Religious SchoolsThu, 10 Oct 2013 14:39:27 +0000Lauren Youngblood1746 at https://secular.orgSecular Coalition and American Humanists Applaud Rep. Pete Stark on Issuing National Day of Reason Proclamationhttps://secular.org/content/2012-Day-of-Reason-release
<p>WASHINGTON, D.C. &ndash; &ndash; The Secular Coalition for America and the American Humanist Association are pleased that U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) has officially recognized the National Day of Reason by issuing a proclamation in the House of Representatives. The National Day of Reason, to be observed on May 3, is an alternative to the congressionally endorsed National Day of Prayer. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> The proclamation states, in part, &ldquo;Our nation faces many problems&mdash;bringing our troops home from Afghanistan, creating jobs, educating our children, and protecting our safety net from irresponsible cuts. We will solve these issues through the application of reason. We must also protect women&rsquo;s reproductive choices, the integrity of scientific research, and our public education system from those who would hide behind religious dogma to undermine them.&rdquo; To view the full text of the proclamation, click <a href="http://www.stark.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=2404:floor-statement-recognizing-the-national-day-of-reason&amp;catid=88:floor-statements-2012&amp;Itemid=500236">here</a>.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Reason should be the guiding force for public policy,&rdquo; said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. &ldquo;The National Day of Prayer excludes millions of Americans who choose not to pray or prefer keeping prayer private. Reason is something that everyone can celebrate.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> Lauren Anderson Youngblood, communications manager for the Secular Coalition for America, agreed. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Our founders recognized that the best guarantee of freedom for all was a separation of religion and government,&rdquo; Youngblood said. &ldquo;The National Day of Reason reminds us of the continued importance of our nation&rsquo;s founding principles and offers an alternative to the government-sponsored theism that the National Day of Prayer represents.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /> <br /> The event is scheduled on the first Thursday in May each year to coincide with the National Day of Prayer in order to raise awareness of the threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship. Many local groups affiliated with the American Humanist Association observe the National Day of Reason by participating in blood drives, holding rallies outside state government building or host social gatherings. Some groups also hold rallies outside state government buildings or host social gatherings. The National Day of Reason website, <a href="http://www.nationaldayofreason.org/">NationalDayofReason.org</a>, was established by the American Humanist Association and the Washington Area Secular Humanists.<br /> <br /> The American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America urge all Americans to support the constitutional principal of church-state separation by recognizing the National Day of Reason. Supporters are encouraged to visit the official website, NationalDayOfReason.org, to post an event in their area, sign a petition to be sent to President Obama, and learn how to encourage local governments to issue a National Day of Reason proclamation.<br /> <br /><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> Contacts:</span></strong><br /> <br /><strong> Secular Coalition for America</strong>: Lauren Anderson Youngblood, Communications Manager, Office: (202) 299-1091 x205, Mobile: (202) 630-9725, <a href="mailto:lauren@secular.org">lauren@secular.org</a> <br /> <br /><strong> American Humanist Association</strong>: Brian Magee, Communications Associate, (202) 238-9088 ex. 105, Mobile: (202) 681-2425, <a href="mailto:bmagee@americanhumanist.org">bmagee@americanhumanist.org</a></p>Acknowledging NontheistsPress ReleasesChristian NationNontheist Public OfficialsPrivileging ReligionMon, 30 Apr 2012 13:50:10 +0000Lauren Youngblood632 at https://secular.orgSCA Arizona State Affiliate to Hold Candidate Training Programhttps://secular.org/content/sca-arizona-state-affiliate-hold-candidate-training-program
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<p><span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The Secular Coalition for Arizona, a state affiliate of the Secular Coalition for America, will be organizing training events this fall for secular Arizonans who are interested in running for office. Training will primarily be aimed at those interested in running for local and state level offices such as school board, city council, and state legislature. This training will focus on campaigning, messaging, and the nuts and bolts of effective leadership.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"We hope to inspire some secular candidates. The best way to combat the Religious Right is to elect people who will stand up for the separation of church and state and the rights of secular Americans,&rdquo; said Matt Schoenley, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for Arizona.&nbsp;Candidate training is provided by the Arizona Local Progressive Candidate Training Program and is sponsored by the Center for Progressive Leadership, Planned Parenthood Arizona and the Arizona Education Association&mdash;organizations and constituencies that, like the Secular Coalition for Arizona, are frequently attacked by the Religious Right.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information, see the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.secularaz.org/files/PDF/CandidateTrainingFlyer.pdf" target="_blank">flier</a>&nbsp;or visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.secularaz.org/" target="_blank">Secular Coalition for Arizona website</a>. &nbsp;Candidates can&nbsp;<a href="http://www.azcandidate.progressiveleadership.org/candidate.php/application/index/candidate" target="_blank">apply here</a>.</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>News StoryChristian NationNontheist Public OfficialsTue, 06 Sep 2011 13:51:02 +0000Nick Fish454 at https://secular.orgIgnoring Rapture Forecasts, Secular Coalition Plans First-Ever Capitol Hill Strategy Summithttps://secular.org/content/ignoring-rapture-forecasts-secular-coalition-plans-first-ever-capitol-hill-strategy-summit
<p style="text-align: left;">WASHINGTON, D.C. &ndash; On the same weekend that followers of a Christian fundamentalist broadcaster believe the world will come to an end, more than 100 nontheistic activists and professionals will meet on Capitol Hill for the first-ever Biennial Strategic Summit held by the Secular Coalition for America, the leading national lobby for nontheistic and secular Americans. <br />
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</p><p><a href="https://www.secular.org/2011SummitAgenda">The three-day summit</a>, to be held May 19 to 21 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, will bring together leaders of America&rsquo;s growing secular movement to devise and collaborate on strategies for advancing public policies that promote reason, science, the separation of church and state, and other secular values. While swarms of Christian fundamentalists await the Rapture, attendees at the Secular Coalition summit will lobby their representatives in Congress and participate in panel discussions with the goal of strengthening America&rsquo;s secular government, as was intended by our Founders, and making it easier for nonreligious Americans to be elected to public office.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&ldquo;Faith-based groups for 2,000 years have been preparing for the end times, while reality-based groups such as the Secular Coalition and our allies have been hard at work to improve present times and plan for our nation&rsquo;s future,&rdquo; said <strong>Herb Silverman</strong>, president and founder of the Secular Coalition for America. <br /><br />Speakers invited to address the gathering include <strong>Susan Jacoby</strong>, author of &ldquo;Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism;&rdquo; <strong>Sally Quinn</strong>, moderator of the washingtonpost.com&rsquo;s &ldquo;On Faith&rdquo; blog; comedian, actor, and filmmaker <strong>Paul Provenza</strong>; writer and poet <strong>Jennifer Michael Hecht</strong>, author of &ldquo;Doubt: A History;&rdquo; <strong>David Silverman</strong>, president of American Atheists, and <strong>David Niose</strong>, president of the American Humanist Association. <br /><br />&ldquo;Our nation&rsquo;s public policies should in no way be shaped by theocratic dogma or religious privileging in law,&rdquo; said <strong>Sean Faircloth</strong>, executive director of the Secular Coalition for America, which in 2010 became the first organization representing nontheists to engage in a formal briefing with White House officials. &ldquo;Sadly, rational secular voices are too often silenced in our current political climate by the growing number of pundits and office seekers who routinely condemn the separation of church and state. <br /><br />&ldquo;By organizing in our nation&rsquo;s capital, we plan to re-energize America&rsquo;s growing secular movement, and bring increased attention to the Secular Coalition&rsquo;s campaign to re-commit America to the secular government envisioned by its Founders,&rdquo; Faircloth said. &ldquo;More and more Americans reject the theocratic political agenda that opposes gay marriage, blocks stem-cell research, and injects religious bias in our armed services. Secular Americans can no longer watch from the sidelines. We must speak up, increase our political muscle, and claim an equal seat at the table of American politics.&rdquo;&nbsp; <br /><br />The Secular Coalition for America is a 501(c)4 organization that serves as the national lobby for secular Americans in our nation&rsquo;s capital. Secular Americans include atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans. Composed of 10 diverse member organizations, SCA works to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.secular.org" title="www.secular.org">www.secular.org</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>News StoryPress ReleasesMember OrganizationsNontheist Public OfficialsOfficial Coalition LettersOur ConstituencyPrivileging ReligionReligion in Political CampaignsThu, 12 May 2011 16:45:51 +0000Mike Meno375 at https://secular.orgSecular Americans Praise Rep. Pete Stark’s National Day of Reason Proclamationhttps://secular.org/content/secular-americans-praise-rep-pete-stark%E2%80%99s-national-day-reason-proclamation
<p>WASHINGTON, D.C. &ndash; Secular groups praised a proclamation Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) entered into the congressional record today recognizing May 5 as the National Day of Reason. The proclamation resulted from collaboration between Representative Stark and the Secular Coalition for America, the leading national lobby for secular Americans. <br /><br />&ldquo;Reason and rational thinking have made our country great,&rdquo; Rep. Stark&rsquo;s proclamation stated. &ldquo;The Constitution of the United States of America is based upon the philosophies developed during the historical Age of Reason and the idea that citizens engaging in rational discourse and decision-making can govern themselves. The Constitution also contains a strong separation of church and state, making it clear that government should continue to be built on reason.&rdquo; <br /><br />The National Day of Reason has been celebrated since 2003 as a more inclusive alternative to the divisive and congressionally mandated National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Reason, according to Stark&rsquo;s resolution, &ldquo;is also about taking time to improve our communities &ndash; whether that means holding a blood drive or collecting items for the local food bank. It is also about ensuring that our government represents citizens of all beliefs and backgrounds.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />The entire proclamation can be found at <a href="http://www.stark.house.gov/index.php" title="http://www.stark.house.gov/index.php">http://www.stark.house.gov/index.php</a><br /><br />&ldquo;The Secular Coalition for America has a great appreciation for the continued work Representative Stark has done to promote reason and secular values on Capitol Hill,&rdquo; said Sean Faircloth, executive director of the Secular Coalition for America, who spoke today at a National Day of Reason event on the North Carolina State Capitol grounds in Raleigh. &ldquo;By encouraging Americans to employ reason and perform good deeds in their community, this proclamation embodies values that all Americans can rally behind &ndash; not simply those who pray or believe in a god.&rdquo; <br /><br />A listing of National Day of Reason events, as well as more information and statistics, can be found at <a href="http://www.nationaldayofreason.org/" title="http://www.nationaldayofreason.org/">http://www.nationaldayofreason.org/</a><br /><br />&ldquo;The National Day of Reason has truly taken off,&rdquo; said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, an SCA member organization. &ldquo;Through National Day of Reason activities such as volunteer work, charity events, and open-forum discussions, it&rsquo;s self-evident that you don&rsquo;t have to believe in God to be a good person, and you don&rsquo;t have to adhere to a divisive tradition such as the National Day of Prayer.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Secular Coalition for America is a 501(c)4 organization that serves as the national lobby for atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans. Composed of 10 diverse member organizations, SCA works to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.secular.org" title="www.secular.org">www.secular.org</a>.</p>Acknowledging NontheistsNews StoryPress ReleasesMember OrganizationsNontheist Public OfficialsPrivileging ReligionThu, 05 May 2011 15:51:01 +0000Mike Meno372 at https://secular.orgTell U.S. House to Support Darwin Day! https://secular.org/node/302
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">U.S. Rep. Pete Stark Sponsors <br /> National Darwin Day Resolution </span></strong></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><em>SCA Urges Support for Recognizing <br /> &lsquo;Science in the Betterment of Humanity&rsquo; on Feb. 12</em></span><br /> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) announced today the introduction of H. Res. 81, calling for the designation of Feb. 12, 2011, as Darwin Day in order to recognize the work of Charles Darwin and the importance of science in the advancement of humanity. <br /> <br /> Rep. Stark, the American Humanist Association&rsquo;s 2008 Humanist of the Year, collaborated with the AHA, a Secular Coalition member organization, to produce the resolution. <br /> <br /> &ldquo;Darwin&rsquo;s birthday is a good time for us to reflect on the important role of science in our society,&rdquo; Stark said. &ldquo;It is also a time to redouble our efforts to ensure that children are being taught scientific facts, not religious dogma, and to fight back against those who seek to undermine the science of climate change for political ends.&rdquo; <br /> <br /> The resolution recognizes the importance of Charles Darwin&rsquo;s theory of evolution by the mechanism of natural selection, which is further supported by the modern understanding of genetics. The advancement of science and the academic integrity of the nation&rsquo;s education system are singled out in the resolution as needing protection from those who are unconcerned with the adverse impacts of climate change and who are intent on the teaching of creationism, respectively.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> A recently published survey in the journal <em>Science</em> found that only 28 percent of biology teachers present evidence for evolution as recommended by the National Research Council, while 13 percent &ldquo;explicitly advocate&rdquo; creationism. <br /> <br /> The Secular Coalition firmly supports this resolution and urges anyone who supports the advancement of science of reason to call or email his or her U.S. representative and ask that the representative vote in favor of H. Res. 81. You can read the entire resolution <a href="http://action.secular.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&amp;c=8ivs5x86MBNNPoCY8OKkpDWv7dn6pwTG" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /> <br /> To contact your representative using the AHA's Action Center, please click <a href="http://action.secular.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&amp;c=fQC%2F1hv5tevi3MSgHjx2kDWv7dn6pwTG" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></p>News StoryCreationism/Intelligent DesignMember OrganizationsNontheist Public OfficialsThu, 10 Feb 2011 16:08:15 +0000Mike Meno302 at https://secular.org